Media rack with alternating fixed and slidable cases

ABSTRACT

The device system of the invention while in use is designed to include one stationary tray assembly with a plurality of non adjacent compartments for holding a first set of DVD cases or alike, spaced apart by a plurality of slidable carriers adapted to fit within the remaining compartments, for holding a second set of DVD cases. The slidable parallel carriers are joined at the front or the rear side of the storage system to act as a single slidable assembly including a frontal handle that allows for push-pull operations. The individual carriers and respective DVD cases carried by the sidable assembly are adapted to slidably engage in every other compartment within the separation walls of the stationary tray, while the remaining compartments of the stationary tray are adapted to hold stationary DVD cases.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to storage devices for digital compact disks in their original cases and more particularly to the same devices with a mean for organization.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

CDs and DVDs are widely popular consumer products, and so is the large variety of dedicated storage units available in the market in the form of shelves, cabinets or racks specifically designed to store and display them.

As families expand their collection of movies on DVDs, it's becoming necessary to organize their collection into categories, such comedy or drama, and also to find a way to quickly locate and remove a particular DVD title.

The existing storage systems generally display a large number of vertically aligned DVD cases with spines virtually touching each other and with no method of organization. Another disadvantage to such systems is also the difficulty for a person to read adjacent vertically aligned titles involving a variety of fonts and styles and still be able to quickly identify the desired title. The close proximity of DVD cases also makes them hard to grab and difficult to return.

The present invention is intended to overcome some of the problems set forth above.

SUMMERY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage device that quickly and easily locates a particular DVD title. While it is generally known that a paragraph typed with double spaced lines allows for easier reading and concentration, the same is true with the present invention.

According to the invention there is provided a storage device that stores two distinct sets of DVD cases. While it may appear that the two sets display a continuous row of adjacent DVD cases, in reality, alternating fixed and slidable DVD cases are positioned side by side.

The set of slidable cases actually rest on a slidable assembly that can be pulled forwardly from an intermediate rest position to a position in front of the stationary DVD cases. Inversely, the same set of slidable cases can also be pushed backwardly pass the intermediate position and slightly behind the set of stationary DVDs, given the later the appearance of being in front.

According to the invention there is provided a storage device for the vertical storage and organization of a plurality DVD cases and alike, comprising one stationary structure and one slidable assembly. The stationary structure can be in the form of a tray or the base of a housing, and includes a plurality of equally spaced and parallel vertical wall separation. The inner faces from the first and second opposing side walls form one compartment that is adapted to hold a single DVD case, while the inner faces of the second and third opposing wall separations form one compartment or track, that is adapted to receive a slidable carrier with a single DVD case mounted on it.

Therefore, the device system of the invention while in use is designed to include one stationary tray assembly with a plurality of non adjacent compartments for holding a first set of DVD cases, spaced apart by a plurality of slidable carriers adapted to fit within the remaining compartments, for holding a second set of DVD cases. The slidable parallel carriers converge at the front or the rear side of the storage system to form a single slidable assembly with a frontal handle that allows for push-pull operations. The individual carriers and respective DVD cases carried by the slidable assembly are adapted to slidably engage in every other compartment created by the separation walls of the stationary tray, while the remaining compartments of the stationary tray are adapted to hold stationary DVD cases.

In summery, the invention provides a DVD rack that is divided into two sets of DVD cases representing odd and even cases, whereby only a single set can be selected to move into one of three distinct positions. One intermediate position where cases from both sets are evenly aligned, to a forward position where only every other case is pulled forward, to a backward position where every other case is pushed backwards.

While the stationary tray may be made of wood or plastic material, the slidable assembly is generally injection molded.

It is possible to vary the construction of the invention by providing additional elements, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, while there has been set forth here the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is understood that the invention is to be limited only by the enclosed claims or their equivalent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stationary tray for holding two groups of DVD cases;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slidable assembly for holding one group of DVDs according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembled storage system and DVD cases combining the stationary tray from FIG. 1 and the slidable assembly of FIG. 2 in an intermediate position;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the storage system in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the storage system in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an assembled storage system and DVD cases combining the stationary tray from FIG. 1 and the slidable assembly of FIG. 2 moved to a forward position;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the storage system in FIG. 6 with an optional spring assembly;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the storage system in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an assembled storage system and DVD cases combining the stationary tray from FIG. 1 and the slidable assembly of FIG. 2 moved to a backward position;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the storage system in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the storage system in FIG. 9;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a supporting structure in the form of a tray 1 comprising a plurality of parallel separation walls 5 and 5 a creating a plurality of adjacent compartments 2 and 2 a. While the bases of non adjacent compartments 2 and 2 a and opposing inner side walls 4 and 4 a are adapted to hold single DVD cases 20, compartments 3 and 3 a with optional longitudinal groove 7 are adapted to engage slidable DVD carriers 11 and 11 a shown in FIG. 2. Rear wall 6 represents the back side of tray assembly 1 while, for the sake of simplicity, 8 represents a sectional cut-off of the tray assembly 1 that may typically include ten to twenty individual compartments.

Referring to FIG. 2, slidable assembly 10 is shown comprising a plurality of parallel DVD case carriers or holders 11 and 11 a, a transverse member 14 integrally connecting all carrier members and a horizontal hand grip 16 for manually pushing or pulling the slidable assembly 10.

Carrier member 11 and 11 a are composed of a flat bases 11 and 11 a for carrying a vertically aligned DVD case 21, and front walls 12 and 12 a and back walls 13 and 13 a for restraining the case during forward or backward sliding operations.

For the sake of simplicity, 15 represents a sectional cut-off of the sliding assembly 10 that may typically include ten to twenty individual case carriers.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the slidable assembly 10 is inserted into the stationary assembly 1 with carrier members 11 and 11 a slidably engaged inside corresponding compartments 2 and 2 a. The stationary structure of FIG. 1 is now represented by tray member 1 located at the base of housing member 35 and symmetrically opposed tray 10 a including downwardly extending separation walls 5 b and 5 d. Separation wall 5 is extended to form side wall 24 and cooperate with opposed separation walls 5 a and 5 b to help retain DVD case 20, while separation wall 5 c and 5 d help in guiding slidable carrier member 11 and supported case 21.

FIG. 3 shows all DVD cases inside housing 35 evenly aligned when slidable assembly 10 rests in the intermediate position while FIG. 4 shows spine members 20 a and 21 a virtually overlapping each other.

FIG. 5 shows the top view of a storage system that includes two sets of DVD cases. Set one includes stationary DVD cases represented by even numbered spines 20 a, 22 a, 24 a, 26 a and 28 a, and a second set of cases represented by odd numbers 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29.

For the sake of clarity, double line 36, 8 and 15 represent a right side cut-off, where a storage device of ten to twenty DVD cases is desirable.

The Housing member 35 of FIG. 3 can be designed to allow for both vertically and horizontally aligned cases.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the slidable assembly 10 is inserted into the stationary assembly 1 with carrier members 11 and 11 a slidably engaged inside corresponding compartments 2 and 2 a. The slidable structure 10 is manually pulled into a forward position forcing all carrier members and corresponding cases to move forward. With only every other DVD case moved to the front position, titles are now better identifiable and easier to remove or to return.

Spring assembly 30 of FIG. 7 connects slidable assembly 10 with stationary assembly 1 at points 31 and 32 to allow carrier members 11, 11 a and corresponding cases 21 and 23 to automatically return from a forward position to a rest position provided by the intermediate position of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, the slidable assembly 10 is inserted into the stationary assembly 1 with carrier members 11 and 11 a slidably engaged inside corresponding compartments 2 and 2 a. The slidable structure 10 is manually pushed into a backward position forcing all carrier members and corresponding cases to move backward. With every other DVD case having moved to the far back position, stationary cases 20 through 28 now appear to be in front, therefore facilitating their identification and their removal. FIG. 10 shows a cross section of the storage device of the invention with DVD case 20 represented by dotted lines as being in front of DVD 21 as it traveled to a backward position against rear wall 6.

The drawings and the forgoing descriptions are not intended to represent the only forms of the invention in regard to the detail of its construction and manner of operation. For instance, vertical side walls on the tray of FIG. 1 may instead be located on the sliding carriers 11 themselves. Compartments 3 and 3 a could actually be cut-outs into the supporting shelf (not shown) itself allowing entry of the sliding carriers 11 and 11 a into a backward, intermediate and forward position. 

1- A device for storing DVD cases and alike, comprising: a supporting base with a plurality of substantially equal adjacent compartments adapted for holding a single stationary case in one compartment and one case carrier member in an adjacent compartment; wherein said compartment comprises a first and second parallel opposing side wall; wherein said stationary case meaning a case that rests in one position until it is removed for use. wherein said case carrier member comprises a base and a rear wall, and adapted to removably hold and transport one individual case. wherein said case carrier members are substantially parallel, with a flat base and slidably mounted on said supporting base; wherein said case carrier members are integrally joined at one of their extremities to provide for a single movable carrier assembly including a frontal handle. 2- The device of claim 1, wherein the supporting base is in the form of a tray. 3- The device of claim 1, wherein the supporting base represents the actual base member of a housing unit. 4- The device of claim 1, wherein said slidable assembly is movable from a position in front of the stationary cases to an intermediate position where all cases are evenly aligned, to a position behind said stationary cases. 5- A device for storing DVD cases and alike, comprising: one stationary assembly and at least one slidable assembly; wherein the stationary assembly is composed of a plurality of equal partitions for holding a first set of stationary cases into all non adjacent partitions, and wherein case carrier members from the said slidable assembly are adapted to engage within the remaining partition; wherein said partitions comprising a substantially flat base and adapted to fit a perpendicular case adjacently to a slidable carrier member for holding another perpendicular case; and wherein the slidable assembly is movable from a position in front of the stationary cases to a position behind the stationary cases. 6- Storage device of claim 5, wherein said compartments include a substantially flat base and upwardly extending side walls. 7- A storage device of claim 5, wherein said slidable carrier including a substantially flat base and upwardly extending side walls. 8- The device of claim 5, wherein said supporting base represents the base member of a rack assembly. 9- The device of claim 5, wherein said supporting base including means for fixing the base to a flat shelf. 10- A storage apparatus including a combination of one stationary base assembly with a plurality of non adjacent stationary compartments for holding a first set of stationary digital media disk cases, spaced apart by a plurality of slidable carriers adapted to fit between the said stationary compartments for holding a second set of media cases, whereas said slidable carriers are longitudinally parallel and integrally connected at the front or the rear side of said storage apparatus to form a single slidable assembly with a frontal handle that allows for push-pull operations, and wherein the individual carriers with their respective cases of said slidable assembly are adapted to slidably engage in every other compartment of said stationary base, while the remaining compartments of the stationary base are adapted to hold stationary media cases. 11- The device of claim 10 wherein said slidable assembly is movable from a position in front of the stationary cases of said stationary base to a position behind the stationary cases of said stationary base. 12- The device of claim 11 wherein said stationary compartment including a substantially flat base and lateral side walls. 13- A digital media rack for holding evenly aligned adjacent cases comprising two sets of interlaced odd and even cases, whereby only one of the sets is riding on a slidable assembly for moving in front of or behind the other set. 